Meat-forming press

ABSTRACT

Two pivotally connected clam-shell die supports contain a pair of meat-forming dies which are forced together by the upward movement of a pair of clamp yokes connected to the die supports by toggle links. Opposite ends of the clamped die halves are open to receive fluid pressure actuated rams which complete the compression forming. A die liner separates the lower mating die surfaces from the meat.

llnited States Patent 1m Ross I 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [54] MEAT-FQRMING PRESS 1,975,916 lO/l934 Bech 100/244 X [76] Inventor: Henry M. Ross, The Lawn, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Nokesvllle, 22123 274,565 5 1914 Germany 100 232 [22] Filed: Oct. 18, 1971 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite [211 App! l90090 Att0rneyll. J. Crickenberger [52] US. Cl 100/232, 100/2i-gb/lDO?29l5O, 57 ABSTRACT 51 Int. Cl B30b 3/04 Pivmally muted clam'she" die [58] Field of Search 17/32- 425/352 353 Pair meat'fmming dies which are 425/355; l00/DIG 10, 42 232, 233,144 295 gether by the upward movement of a pair of clamp yokes connected to the die supports by toggle links. 56] References Cited Opposite ends of the clamped die halves are open to receive fluid pressure actuated rams which complete the UNITED STATES PATENTS compression forming. A die liner separates the lower 1; D2 532 3 2 0 333 mating die surfaces from the meat. 234,983 '1 1/1880 Hoefjen 100/232 X 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEIJSEP 4 mm 13356231 INVENTOR HENRY M Ross MEAT-FORMING PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the meat processing industry it has been a common practice for many years to form meat into rolls or logs, as they are called, with various cross-sectional shapes. Processed lunch meats are probably the most familiar example of this. I-Iam, chicken and turkey are formed into round or square logs for sale by individual slicing in delicatessens or sliced and pre-packaged for sale in supermarkets. In the marketing of pre-packaged frozen meats where portion control is desired, beef and pork are also formed into desired cross-sectional shapes and then are sliced into individual portions of uniform size and shape.

In order to form meat by compression action in meat presses it has been found that the meat must be frozen, or nearly frozen, in order to retain its newly-formed shape after the forming operation is complete. Since tempered or frozen meat is far from being a perfect hydraulic fluid, it is frequently necessary to overcompress the meat in order to eliminate all voids in the log so formed. Overcompression destroys the normal meat texture and should be avoided whenever possible.

Conventional meat-forming presses are usually of the four post variety in which one forming die is mounted on the bed of the press, while the other die is suspended directly over the first die and supported by four posts. The posts are actuated to move downwardly and force the dies together. One end of the closed dies remains open and a single ram is used to complete the meat-forming operation and eliminate voids in the meat. With the four post arrangement meat must be fed into the lower die through the posts. It is difiicult to keep the meat away from the mating surfaces of the dies. Furthermore, in order for the single ram action to eliminate voids in the far end of the meat, it is often necessary to overcompress the meat next to the ram.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated in a meatforming press which comprises a pair of dies which open and close in clam-shell" fashion. The bottoms of the dies are mounted on a common pivot shaft, and the tops swing open and closed in arcuate movements. A stainless steel sheet liner contains the meat within the dies and eliminates the problem of meat getting caught between the mating surfaces of the dies. In closed position opposite ends of the dies remain open to receive compression rams which move inwardly to complete the meat-forming operation. Since opposite ends of the meat log are compressed simultaneously by the dual rams, the pressure necessary to eliminate all voids in the meat is not sufficient to cause overcompression with the resultant damage to the meat fibers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE of the drawing is an exploded perspective of the meat-forming press showing the clam-shell mechanism and the associated rams.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention will be understood more readily by referring to the drawing in which the single FIGURE shows the mechanism in exploded perspective form.

The meat-forming press comprises a pair of die support members 3,3 which are pivotally joined at their bottom portions by pivot shaft 8. Positioned within the die support members are die members 4, 4. A stainless steel die liner 5 is positioned within the space defined by mating die members 4, 4'.

Clamp yoke members 2, 2' are connected to die support members 3, 3' by means of toggle links such as shown at 9, 9 and I1, 11'. Toggle links 9, 9' are pivotally mounted to clamp yoke 2' by means of pin 13, and are similarly connected to die support 3 by means of pin 15. The remaining toggle links are likewise connected by pivot mountings. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder 1 is utilized to actuate clamp yokes 2, 2

through the toggle linkage shown thereby opening and closing dies 4, 4'.

A pair of rams 7, 7 are mounted at opposite ends of the clam-shell mechanism. Rams 7', 7 are positioned in opposite ends of the die liner 5 to compress the meat within the die liner when dies 4, 4' are closed and held tightly shut by the clamping action of the toggle linkage.

In operation the clamp yokes 2, 2' are moved downwardly toopen the die supports 3, 3' and consequently the die members 4,4. Meat is added to the press from the top, which is unobstructed, by placing the meat in die liner 5 in the quantity desired. The clamp yokes 2, 2' are then moved upwardly to close dies 4, 4' and hold them in clamped position by the action of the toggle linkage which looks the dies in closed position. Rams 7, 7' are actuated to move toward each other within die liner 5, thereby compressing the meat from both ends toward the center. This final forming action on the meat fills all voids within die liner 5 and shapes the meat to conform to the cross-sectional configuration of the mold.

The clam-shell design of the present invention makes it particularly easy to add and remove meat. The die liner eliminates the problem of meat getting caught between the mating surfaces of the die members, and overcompression ofthe meat is eliminated with the dual-ram configuration.

What is claimed is: I

l. A meat-forming press comprising:

a pair of meat-fonning dies;

pivotally connected support means mounting said dies for movement between open and closed positions;

' clamp means for actuating said support means to open and close said dies;

ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meatforming dies; and

means for acutating simultaneously said opposed ram means when said meat-forming dies are closed,

whereby meat located within said meat-forming dies is compressed uniformly at both ends to form the desired configuration without the presence of voids.

2. The combination according to claim 1 comprising die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies,

whereby the problem of meat getting caught between the mating surfaces of the dies is eliminated.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said die liner means comprises a stainless steel sheet.

4. A meat forming press comprising a pair of meat forming dies;

first means mounting said dies for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; said first means comprising die support members pivotally connected at their bottom portions; second means for actuating said first means to open and close said dies; said second means comprising clamp yoke means connected to said diesupport members by toggle linkage; ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meatforming dies; and means for actuating said opposed ram means when said meat-forming dies are closed, whereby meat located within said meat-forming dies is compressed uniformly at both ends to form the desired configuration without the presence of voids.

5. The combination according to claim 4 comprising die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies.

6. A meat-forming press comprising a pair of die support members pivotally connected at their bottom portions;

a pair of meat-forming dies mounted within said die support members to open and close in clam-shell" fashion;

die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies;

clamp yoke means for moving said die support members between open and closed positions;

toggle linkage means connecting said clamp yoke means to said die support members for locking said die support members in closed position;

means for actuating said clamp yoke means;

ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meatforming dies; and

means for actuating said ram means when said meatforming dies are closed.

l I I 3' i 

1. A meat-forming press comprising: a pair of meat-forming dies; pivotally connected support means mounting said dies for movement between open and closed positions; clamp means for actuating said support means to open and close said dies; ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meat-forming dies; and means for acutating simultaneously said opposed ram means when said meat-forming dies are closed, whereby meat located within said meat-forming dies is compressed uniformly at both ends to form the desired configuration without the presence of voids.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 comprising die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies, whereby the problem of meat getting caught between the mating surfaces of the dies is eliminated.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said die liner means comprises a stainless steel sheet.
 4. A meat forming press comprising a pair of meat forming dies; first means mounting said dies for pivotal movement between open and closed positions; said first means comprising die support members pivotally connected at their bottom portions; second means for actuating said first means to open and close said dies; said second means comprising clamp yoke means connected to said die support members by toggle linkage; ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meat-forming dies; and means for actuating said opposed ram means when said meat-forming dies are closed, whereby meat located within said meat-forming dies is compressed uniformly at both ends to form the desired configuration without the presence of voids.
 5. The combinaTion according to claim 4 comprising die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies.
 6. A meat-forming press comprising a pair of die support members pivotally connected at their bottom portions; a pair of meat-forming dies mounted within said die support members to open and close in ''''clam-shell'''' fashion; die liner means mounted within said meat-forming dies; clamp yoke means for moving said die support members between open and closed positions; toggle linkage means connecting said clamp yoke means to said die support members for locking said die support members in closed position; means for actuating said clamp yoke means; ram means mounted at opposite ends of said meat-forming dies; and means for actuating said ram means when said meat-forming dies are closed. 